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Policy: the next generation

1 Sep 2008

Introduction A compelling body of research indicates that children's experiences in the earliest years of their lives strongly influence their futures across a wide range of measures. Policy is currently focused on dealing with the consequences of early adversity (neglect, abuse and dysfunction) which are strongly implicated in the dramatic increases in young people's alcohol and drug use and mental health problems and in youthful knife and gun crime. The most effective intervention strategy therefore requires helping parents to get it right at the antenatal, postnatal and infant stages, long before such help is typically available. Such timely support for parents could help them do an outstanding job in raising the next generation.

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